Tens of thousands of Egyptians on Apr 20 demanded that their military rulers stick to a pledge to hand over power by mid-year after a row over who can run in the presidential election raised doubts about the army’s commitment to democracy. Two leading Islamist candidates, one representing the Muslim Brotherhood who was seen as the frontrunner, were among those disqualified this week from a vote that starts on May 23-24, drawing a storm of criticism from supporters and the candidates. Kh...

The 57-member Organisation of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) on Apr 19 announced its plan to establish a satellite channel and promote investment in the media to fight Islamophobia and enhance exchange of information among the member states. “We have a number of important proposals to strengthen Islamic media activities. They include the launch of an OIC satellite channel,” OIC Secretary-General Ekmeleddin Ihsanoglu told a conference of information ministers from the Islamic world.

Syria and the United Nations on Apr 19 signed an agreement on the terms of a cease-fire monitoring mission, the Syrian Foreign Ministry said. “This preliminary agreement ... aims to facilitate the task of the observers within the framework of Syrian sovereignty,” the statement said. A statement from UN-Arab League mediator Kofi Annan said the Syrian government and the United Nations had agreed a basis for a “protocol” on the deployment of more observers. Ahmad Fawzi, A...

Turkish police on Apr 19 hauled in a top retired general along with several fellow officers for questioning over their role in the overthrow of Turkey’s first Islamist government in 1997. Turkey’s state prosecutors have pursued officers suspected of conspiring against current and former governments. The arrests are the latest case against generals who for decades had considered it their right to interfere in political affairs, and had toppled four governments between 1960 and 1997...

Turkey will search a German-owned ship over allegations it is carrying weapons to Syria, officials said Apr 18. The Atlantic Cruiser was halted in the Mediterranean last week after its owners received information — allegedly from Syrian government defectors — that it may be carrying weapons. Turkey enforces an arms embargo against Syria’s government because of its yearlong crackdown on a popular uprising, which is estimated to have left more than 9,000 people dead.

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War crimes prosecutor Luis Moreno-Ocampo arrived in Tripoli on Apr 18 as part of an investigation into charges against Muammar Qaddafi’s detained son, Seif Al-Islam, sought for trial by the International Criminal Court (ICC). The Hague-based court issued an arrest warrant for Seif Al-Islam last year, after prosecutors accused him and others of involvement in the killing of protesters during the revolt that eventually toppled his father. Libya says he will be tried in his home country bu...